The strong winds and heavy rain took locals by surprise in a country not used to such violent climatic conditions.

The city of Lagoa and popular tourist town of Silves took a direct hit.

“It began to rain a lot and it was very windy, the ground started shaking. I held the window and suddenly everything started breaking in my hands, and it came into my house – everything is destroyed,” said one victim.

A trail of destruction has left hundreds of people homeless and some of the injured had to be cut free from their cars after the swirling winds tossed their vehicles into the air.